Sonisphere hard rock festival cancelled

Faith No More, Queen and Kiss fans have some extra bad news to add to the budget’s recent tax-grab from pensioners. The hard rock festival Sonisphere 2012, scheduled for Knebworth on July 6-8, has been cancelled.

Economic reasons were cited for the festival’s cancellation. The Sonisphere website issued a statement: "Putting the festival together in what is proving to be a very challenging year was more difficult than we anticipated and we have spent the last few months fighting hard to keep Sonisphere in the calendar. Unfortunately circumstances have dictated that we would be unable to run the festival to a standard that both the artists and that Sonisphere's audience would rightly expect."

The announcement was no surprise as the cancellation had already been announced to fans on Queen’s website, although probably not under the headline "We Won’t Rock You". Queen were planning to play the show fronted by the American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert. Marilyn Manson, Mastodon and Cypress Hill were also on the bill.

The economic downturn has had a substantial impact on the UK’s festival scene. Glastonbury is letting its fields lie fallow this year, while Oxegen and the Big Chill have also been cancelled for 2012.

Although live music in the UK is booming, there is a trend towards small venues and grass-roots music. Folk and acoustic acts are finding a new and receptive audience, while bloated rock extravagance can seem a little out of touch with the times.

Sonisphere announced that ticket holders will automatically receive a full refund, direct from their ticket agents.